Totally agree with the half flip, and half lutz! I get that they're there to teach property entry and picking technique early on, but they're not pretty, and the forward landing (clunk!) is awkward. They're also easy to over-rotate if you have any kind of speed and power going into them (although I suppose the thought is that at the lower levels, most skaters probably aren't going into them with much speed or power).
What has me totally confused right now is the mazurka. My coach just showed me this today. I'd heard of it but never learned it in the 5 years I skated before, never knew what it was, and honestly don't think I ever knew anyone who did it! Anyway, I get that the entry is like a toe loop... but then something about sliding to the side and doing a bunny hop? All I know is that I couldn't wrap my head around it, and after I got the entry and picked, I'd spring/jump opposite of what you're supposed to do. Every. Time. My coach said what I was doing (every time) was actually called a cherry flip... which no one does anymore, but apparently I'm bringing it back. Haha! I think I'm going to have to go on YouTube for the mazurka and figure it out off the ice first.